Most organizations don’t fail because of bad AI models; they fail because their data isn’t clear. When your data is consistent, connected, and governed, your systems begin to “do the talking” for your teams. In our earlier article on whether your tech stack is holding you back from achieving AI success, we discussed the importance of building the right foundation.  This time, we go deeper because even the best stack cannot deliver without data clarity. That’s when deals close faster, billing runs itself, projects stay on track, and leaders decide with confidence. This blueprint shows how to move from fragments to structure to precision. The Reality Check For many businesses today, operations still depend on spreadsheets, scattered files, and long email threads. Reports exist in multiple versions, important numbers are tracked manually, and teams spend more time reconciling than acting. This is not a tool problem, it is a clarity problem. If your inventory lives in spreadsheets, if the “latest report” means three versions shared over email, no algorithm will save you. What scales is clarity: one language for data, one source of truth, and one way to connect systems and decisions. 💡 If you cannot trust your data today, you will second guess your decisions tomorrow. What Data Clarity Really Means (in Plain Business Terms) Clarity is not a buzzword. It makes data usable and enables scalability, giving every AI-ready business its foundation. Here’s what that looks like in practice: 💡Clarity is not another software purchase. It is a shared business agreement across systems and teams. From Chaos to Clarity: The Three Levels of Readiness Data clarity evolves step by step. Think of it as moving from fragments to gemstones, to jewels. Level 1: Chaos (fragments everywhere) Data is spread across applications, spreadsheets, inboxes, and vendor portals. Duplicates exist, numbers conflict, and no one fully trusts the information. Level 2: Structure (the gemstone taking shape) Core entities like Customers, Products, Projects, and Invoices are standardized and mapped across systems. Data is stored in structured tables or databases. Reporting becomes stable, handovers reduce, and everyone begins pulling from a shared source. Level 3: Composable Insights (precision) Data is modular, reusable, and intelligent. It feeds forecasting, guided actions, and proactive alerts. Business leaders move from asking “what happened?” to acting on “what should we do next?” [Image Alt: Data Fragments to Jewel Levels] How businesses progress: 💡Fragments refined into gemstones, and gemstones polished into jewels. Data clarity and maturity are the jewels of your business. In fragments, they hold little value. The Minimum Readiness Stack (Microsoft First) You don’t need a long list of tools. You need a stack that works together and grows with you: 💡A small, well-integrated Tech stack outperforms a large, disconnected toolkit, every time. What Data Clarity Unlocks Clarity does not just organize your data. It transforms how systems work with each other and how your business operates. CloudFronts provided solutions, the real-world impact: Benefits enabled across departments in your business: 💡When systems talk, your teams stop chasing data. They gain clarity. And clarity means speed, control, and growth. Governance That Accelerates Governance is not red tape, it is acceleration. Here’s how effective governance translates into business impact.  Proof in action includes: 💡Trust in data is engineered, not assumed. Outcomes That Matter to the Business Clarity shows up in business outcomes, not just dashboards. Tinius Olsen-Migrating from TIBCO to Azure Logic Apps for seamless integration between D365 Field Service and Finance & Operations  – CloudFronts BÜCHI’s customer-centric vision accelerates innovation using Azure Integration Services | Microsoft Customer Stories 💡Once clarity is established, every new process, report, or integration lands faster, cleaner, and with more impact. To conclude, getting AI-ready is not about chasing new models. It is about making your data consistent, connected, and governed so that systems quietly remove manual work while surfacing what matters. All of this leads to one truth: clarity is the foundation for AI readiness. This is where Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Azure integrations shine, providing a Microsoft-first path from fragments to precision. If your business is ready to move from fragments to precision, let’s talk at transform@cloudfronts.com CloudFront will help you turn data chaos into clarity, and clarity into outcomes.

The AI Race Has Begun but Most Businesses Are Crawling Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer experimental it’s operational. Across industries, companies are trying to harness it to improve decision-making, automate intelligently, and gain competitive edge. But here’s the problem: only 48% of AI projects ever make it to production (Gartner, 2024). It’s not because AI doesn’t work.It’s because most tech stacks aren’t built to support it. The Real Bottleneck Isn’t AI. It’s Your Foundation You may have data. You may even have AI tools. But if your infrastructure isn’t AI-ready, you’ll stay stuck in POCs that never scale. Common signs you’re blocked: AI success starts beneath the surface, in your data pipelines, infrastructure, and architecture. Most machine learning systems fail not because of poor models, but because of broken data and infrastructure pipelines. What Does an AI-Ready Tech Stack Look Like? Being AI-Ready means preparing your infrastructure, data, and processes to fully support AI capabilities. This is not a checklist or quick fix. It is a structured alignment of technology and business goals. A truly AI-ready stack can: Area Traditional Stack AI-Ready Stack Why It Matters Infrastructure On-premises servers, outdated VMs Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Functions, Azure App Services; then: AWS EKS, Lambda; GCP GKE, Cloud Run AI workloads need scalable, flexible compute with container orchestration and event-driven execution Data Handling Siloed databases, batch ETL jobs Azure Data Factory, Power Platform connectors, Azure Event Grid, Synapse Link; then: AWS Glue, Kinesis; GCP Dataflow, Pub/Sub Enables real-time, consistent, and automated data flow for training and inference Storage & Retrieval Relational DBs, Excel, file shares Azure Data Lake Gen2, Azure Cosmos DB, Microsoft Fabric OneLake, Azure AI Search (with vector search); then: AWS S3, DynamoDB, OpenSearch; GCP BigQuery, Firestore Modern AI needs scalable object storage and vector DBs for unstructured and semantic data AI Enablement Isolated scripts, manual ML Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Machine Learning, Copilot Studio, Power Platform AI Builder; then: AWS SageMaker, Bedrock; GCP Vertex AI, AutoML; OpenAI, Hugging Face Simplifies AI adoption with ready-to-use models, tools, and MLOps pipelines Security & Governance Basic firewall rules, no audit logs Microsoft Entra (Azure AD), Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Compliance Manager, Dataverse RBAC; then: AWS IAM, Macie; GCP Cloud IAM, DLP API Ensures responsible AI use, regulatory compliance, and data protection Monitoring & Ops Manual monitoring, limited observability Azure Monitor, Application Insights, Power Platform Admin Center, Purview Audit Logs; then: AWS CloudWatch, X-Ray; GCP Ops Suite; Datadog, Prometheus AI success depends on observability across infrastructure, pipelines, and models In Summary: AI-readiness is not a buzzword. Not a checklist. It’s an architectural reality. Why This Matters Now AI is moving fast and so are your competitors. But success doesn’t depend on building your own LLM or becoming a data science lab. It depends on whether your systems are ready to support intelligence at scale. If your tech stack can’t deliver real-time data, run scalable AI, and ensure trust your AI ambitions will stay just that: ambitions. How We Help We work with organizations across industries to: Whether you’re just starting or scaling AI across teams, we help build the architecture that enables action. Because AI success isn’t about plugging in a tool. It’s about building a foundation where intelligence thrives. I hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.

In the fast-evolving business landscape, sales leaders and business owners—whether new startups or established enterprises—face an unprecedented challenge: how to scale efficiently while maintaining a competitive edge. The digital revolution has created a vast ecosystem of tools, but many businesses are still unsure of how to leverage them effectively. For existing businesses, the challenge lies in moving away from manual data entry, disjointed workflows, and delayed decision-making that hinder productivity. Many companies still rely on outdated methods like Excel sheets, paperwork, and disconnected systems, leading to inefficiencies and lost revenue. For new or growing businesses, the challenge is different—they need to build a scalable foundation from day one, ensuring that the right digital tools are in place to support growth, automation, and decision-making. This is where Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem, particularly Dynamics 365 CE, Power Platform, and Power BI, plays a critical role in setting up businesses for long-term success. Automation is no longer just an operational advantage; it is a strategic imperative. Leveraging these tools, organizations can create a seamless, data-driven ecosystem that empowers sales teams to work smarter, not harder. But automation must be approached thoughtfully. It’s not about replacing human intuition; it’s about enhancing it. The Business Challenge: Automation is for Everyone, Not Just Tech Giants A common misconception is that automation is reserved for large enterprises with vast IT budgets. However, small and mid-sized businesses, as well as new startups, can also harness automation to streamline operations and scale efficiently. The key lies in understanding where automation can add value and how leaders can architect a strategy that integrates human judgment with system intelligence. Consider a mid-sized manufacturing firm that still manages leads and customer follow-ups manually. The sales team spends hours logging interactions, tracking deals, and following up via emails, leading to lost opportunities. By implementing Power Automate with Dynamics 365 CE, the company can: For a new business venturing into the cloud ecosystem, automation is a game-changer from day one. Instead of relying on traditional methods, they can: The result? More deals closed in less time, with greater accuracy and a human-first approach to relationship-building. The “ACTION” Framework for Sales Automation (Automate, Connect, Track, Improve, Optimize, Nurture) Sales Process Automation: From Lead to Close with Structured Chaos The “SMART” Approach to Sales Automation (Simplify, Monitor, Automate, Refine, Transform) Example 1: Automating Lead Qualification Imagine a sales rep manually filtering through hundreds of incoming leads to identify high-potential prospects. This process is not only time-consuming but also prone to bias. With AI-powered lead scoring in Dynamics 365 CE, the system automatically: Example 2: Automated Follow-Ups to Prevent Lost Deals A major challenge in sales is following up consistently. Research suggests that 80% of sales require five follow-ups, yet many reps give up after one or two. With Power Automate, businesses can: These micro-automations ensure no lead falls through the cracks, keeping the pipeline healthy and sales reps focused on closing deals. Power Virtual Agents (Copilot Agents): Revolutionizing Customer Engagement With the rise of AI, Power Virtual Agents, now called Copilot Agents, have transformed how businesses handle customer engagement and service. These AI-driven chatbots can: CRM Integration: The Power of a Unified System Many organizations use third-party tools for sales, marketing, and customer service. However, seamless CRM integration with Dynamics 365 CE provides unmatched insights and operational efficiency. By integrating with external platforms: Stakeholders & Business Owners: Making Data-Driven Decisions For business owners and key decision-makers, automation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about strategic growth and profitability. By leveraging AI and automation tools, they can: Challenges in Sales Automation and How to Overcome Them 1. User Resistance to Automation 2. Integration Difficulties 3. Lack of Proper Communication 4. Data Quality Issues Conclusion: The Future of Business is Automated, But Still Human Automation is not a replacement for human expertise—it’s a force multiplier. Businesses that embrace automation with a strategic, human-first approach will thrive in the modern market. By leveraging Dynamics 365 CE, Power Platform, and Power BI, businesses can build a scalable, insight-driven ecosystem that not only improves sales productivity but future-proofs the organization for long-term success. I hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.

Introduction PowerApps continues to evolve with new features that simplify formula creation and make app development more accessible for everyone. The recent updates bring innovative tools like natural language-based Power Fx formula generation and enhanced formula explanations. In this blog, we’ll explore these new features and provide actionable tips and tricks to help you leverage them effectively in your apps. 1. Generate Power Fx Formulas Using Natural Language One of the standout updates is the ability to create Power Fx formulas using natural language instructions. This feature is perfect for both beginners and experienced developers looking to save time. How It Works: Practical Tip: Use natural language for complex formulas that are hard to write manually, such as: This approach accelerates formula creation, reduces errors, and lowers the learning curve for new users. 2. Enhanced Formula Explanation for Better Understanding Have you ever been puzzled by a long or intricate formula? The enhanced formula explanation feature can help by providing plain language explanations for selected parts of a formula. How It Works: Practical Tip: 3. Multi-Language Support in Formula Generation With the growing global adoption of PowerApps, formula generation now supports multiple languages. This feature ensures that users can work comfortably in their preferred language. How It Works: Practical Tip: Use this feature when collaborating with teams across regions. It allows contributors to describe actions in their native language, making formula generation inclusive and efficient. 4. Speed Up App Development with AI Assistance AI-based suggestions in the formula bar aren’t just for natural language inputs. They can help optimize existing formulas and suggest best practices as you build. How It Works: Practical Tip: Examples below Hope this helps Conclusion The latest PowerApps formula updates are game changers for app developers. From generating formulas with natural language to debugging them with enhanced explanations, these features simplify app development and make PowerApps more accessible to users of all skill levels. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.

Introduction Power Automate has revolutionized process automation by offering a low-code platform for building efficient workflows. However, when dealing with large-scale data or simultaneous operations, concurrency becomes a critical concept. Understanding and managing concurrency ensures that workflows run smoothly without performance bottlenecks or data integrity issues. In this blog, we’ll explore the concept of concurrency in Power Automate, its implications, and how to configure it effectively. Along the way, we’ll illustrate the topic with a practical example to help you grasp its real-world application. 1. What Is Concurrency in Power Automate? Concurrency refers to the ability of a workflow to execute multiple iterations or steps simultaneously. While concurrency can significantly speed up workflows, it must be handled carefully to avoid conflicts, particularly when working with shared resources or sequential processes. 2. Why Concurrency Matters Managing concurrency effectively can: However, improper configuration can lead to issues like data overwrites, skipped steps, or exceeding service limits. 3. Configuring Concurrency in Power Automate a) Setting Concurrency in Loop Actions Loop actions (e.g., “Apply to each”) in Power Automate have a concurrency control setting that determines how many items can be processed in parallel. b) Default Setting: By default, loops run sequentially. 4. Practical Example: Parallel Processing for Email Notifications a) Scenario: Your organization frequently sends mass email notifications to users based on CRM data. Using sequential processing causes delays, especially for large datasets. b) Solution: Implement a Power Automate workflow with concurrency enabled: Trigger: The workflow starts with a scheduled recurrence trigger or a Dataverse event. Data Retrieval: Fetch user data from Dataverse or SharePoint. Apply to Each: Enable concurrency control for the “Apply to Each” loop. Set a parallelism degree of 5 to process 5 emails simultaneously. Send Email: Each iteration sends an email notification to a user. Error Handling: Use retry policies or error-handling branches to manage failures. Outcome: The workflow completes email notifications significantly faster, improving operational efficiency while maintaining reliability. Following image contains settings of ‘Apply to Each’ action in Power Automate 5. Key Considerations and Best Practices a) Identify Dependencies: Avoid enabling concurrency for workflows with interdependent steps. b) Service Limits: Check Power Automates limits to prevent throttling. c) Monitor Performance: Use Power Automate analytics to monitor workflow performance and adjust settings as needed. d) Test Before Deployment: Ensure workflows behave as expected under concurrent execution. Conclusion Concurrency in Power Automate is a powerful tool for optimizing workflows, especially when handling bulk operations or parallel tasks. By understanding its settings and best practices, you can design workflows that are both efficient and reliable. I hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.

Introduction Document management is a critical aspect of any organization using Dynamics 365 CRM, and finding a simple, scalable solution can often be a challenge.  In this blog, I’ll show you how PowerApps Custom Pages can transform your document handling experience. By leveraging model-driven capabilities, I’ve built a solution from scratch that allows you to handle multiple document templates at once without the complexity and clutter of traditional methods. Using Custom Pages, you can generate and organize documents across different entities directly within the Dynamics 365 environment, making it easy to scale your solution for any table or scenario. Let’s take a closer look at how Custom Pages can streamline and simplify document management for your organization. The Use-Case: Document Management Application Key Components of the Solution which I have chosen for this use-case and blog Step-by-Step Process Step 1: Create the Custom Page (refer to my previous blog if needed) Create a solution, create custom Page and then embed it into Model-Driven App. I’ve made a sample example below: Step 2: How to retrieve parameters when App is opened. For the App’s ‘OnStart’ property, enter the following code Step 3: Trigger Document Generation App (I have used a ribbon button to trigger using JS) You will need to write a JavaScript in order to trigger and display the Custom Page. Where to find the app name, you will find in the solution. My example is below Step 3: Trigger Document Generation Page Once the document is created, you can close the Page using X button. As per JS code, our code will navigate to Document Tab. Ensure the name of Document Tab is correct. Step 4: Automation to SharePoint Use PowerApps Connector and add your input parameters to it. In the Custom Page, do insert the newly created Power Automate flow and pass the input values respectively Also, once the flow is completed, you can send a response back to Custom Page using same connector but of different action ‘Respond to PowerApp or Flow’. Conclusion Conclusion This Custom Page use-case demonstrates how a thoughtfully designed solution can enhance productivity and user experience in Dynamics 365. By streamlining document creation and navigation, it reduces friction in day-to-day operations, empowering teams to focus on higher-value tasks. Whether you’re a technical developer or a functional consultant, this approach provides actionable insights for building powerful and efficient solutions. References We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Introduction In this guide, I’ll Walk you through creating your first PowerApps Custom Page in Dynamics 365. This beginner-friendly approach will demystify the process and include a high-level use-case to inspire your developing use-cases in creative and simple way. Why are Custom Pages good? Custom Pages are Model-Driven exclusive Pages that can be used with Dataverse/CRM easily, it can bring flexibility and power to your Model-Driven Apps by allowing tailored layouts, interactive designs, and seamless integration within Dynamics 365. Custom Pages supports Power FX commands which are not present in Canvas Apps. Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Custom Page Step 1: Prerequisites and Environment Setup Ensure users have the necessary permissions and access to PowerApps Studio and Dynamics 365.Also, prefer using Solutions as pages are seen in solutions but not in Apps section. Step 2: Create a New Custom Page There are 2 ways to create Custom Page, I will highly recommend 1st point but 2nd point is also there for your knowledge. You will land to PowerApps Editor screen for Page after this Add desired content to the Page as per your use-case, for the blog purpose, I made a contacts page. Save your Custom Page and Publish it. [Note: Do save and publish the App] Step 3: Embed the Custom Page in Dynamics 365 Model-Driven App To add the newly created Page in your Model-Driven App, add the Model-Driven app to your solution and click on Edit For showing it on the Navigation Menu, do select checkbox. But if you want to show it Page as on-demand style/pop-up or JS triggered style then simply add the page to Model-Driven and hide it on Sitemap. [Note: Once completed, Do save and publish the App] Final Output Your Custom Page will be embedded directly to the Model-Driven App. That’s all for creating Custom Page in Model-Driven App. Conclusion Creating a Custom Page in D365 is a simple yet powerful way to enhance your Model-Driven Apps. With this guide, you’re ready to start building interactive, dynamic solutions tailored to your business needs. Hope my blog helps you! We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com. Reference Links Microsoft documentation: Understanding Custom Page Microsoft Documentation: Create Custom Page Microsoft Documentation: Calling/Navigating to Custom Page

What Makes Custom Pages Unique? Key Differences Between Custom Pages and Canvas Apps Benefits of Using Custom Pages in D365 Conclusion In conclusion, Custom Pages stand out as a powerful tool for enhancing the functionality and user experience within the D365 ecosystem. By offering seamless integration with Model-Driven Apps, advanced design capabilities, and tailored interactions, Custom Pages provide users with a dynamic, responsive interface that feels native to the D365 environment. While Canvas Apps offer broader cross-platform flexibility, Custom Pages excel in scenarios requiring deep integration and advanced Model-Driven functionalities. Whether you’re looking to improve user engagement or create personalized, context-sensitive workflows, Custom Pages offer a unique advantage, making them an essential tool for any D365 implementation. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com. Reference Links PowerApps Custom Page: Microsoft Documentation – Custom Page

Introduction In this guide, we’ll walk through the process of sending emails from D365 CRM with attachments using Power Automate. This step-by-step approach will help you understand how to automate your email communications from CRM with attachments efficiently. Use-Case Let’s say you’re working on a project where you need to send emails from D365 CRM that include attachments. In this example, the document is stored in SharePoint, and its URL is linked within the CRM record. This setup is common in CRM where files are centrally stored in SharePoint but need to be easily accessible in CRM for email communication and tracking in CRM. However, this approach is versatile—whether you want to attach specific documents, generate them dynamically, or handle a range of file types, it can be adapted to meet your use-case needs. Why this solution? Main objective of using D365 Emails is the ability to track the emails to the record to keep track of communications in timeline. Also, manually attaching documents to each email is time-consuming and prone to errors. With Power Automate, you can automate this process, ensuring that every email includes the right attachment without extra steps. This solution not only saves time but also reduces the risk of sending incorrect or outdated files, keeping your communications accurate and efficient. Implementation – Step by Step As per my use-case, I have added a column in Accounts table that will hold my SharePoint file URL which I’ll use in power automate. Step 1: Trigger the Flow when a flag is marked true to send email report. Step 2: Get the file content using SharePoint path Step 3: Create a new ‘Email Message’ record in data verse (Add a new row) Step 4: Add a new row for ‘Attachments’ and link to email message record Add the custom value as shown below Add Base64 to your file content Add file name Step 5: Send the email That’s it Let’s test it – Results Trigger the flag (as per my use-case) The Email record with attachment Conclusion By integrating Power Automate to handle attachments from SharePoint, you streamline your email process, save time, and minimize errors. This solution is especially valuable for cases requiring frequent attachments or centralized file storage, as it keeps communication efficient and files up-to-date. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com

Hi All, Let’s see how to highlight duplicate records in Gallery control what works on data source or collection. In this example: I’ll be using a collection that I will highlight in 2 ways Use-case: I want to highlight duplicate ‘Project Allocation’ entries submitted. If someone has submitted a entry that has on Same Project twice needs to be highlighted. Step 1: I created a collection to replicate the scenario Step 2: Add the formula in ‘Template Fill‘ property in Gallery Control. Note: I have used random color style in my gallery, so output will be as follows For highlight only selected items in the gallery, the code will be as follows Therefore, output will be as follows Hope this helps